"I was looking at your most recent update and you indicate that you changed a caption from Spartan to Zeus. If you look closely at the 3rd stage fins they are those of the Spartan rather than Zeus. I think you had it right to start with. Fantastic site by the way."

The webmaster wrote:

"Scott,

Interesting...... Admittedly, my main interests are the computers and radars, so I'll leave it to you missile experts to decide. I've looked at several Zeus photos (via google)--I'm still not sure which is which.

Here's the email from the archivist at the White Sands Missile Range Museum:

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Hi Dave:

Thanks for the informative website.

However, I have one small correction. The caption for the photo at URL http://www.srmsc.org/mis1000.html says the missile on the right is the Spartan. This is not correct. That missile is the Nike Zeus, which was the predecessor to the Spartan. In addition to many technological improvements, the Spartan was longer and larger in diameter. The specs for both are below:

The photo was taken at White Sands Missile Range. The Zeus was tested at White Sands, at Kwajalein, and at Point Magu, California, but the Spartan was never tested at White Sands, only at Kwajalein and Meck Island.

So, it might be appropriate to indicate that the Missile in the photo is a Zeus, but its appearance is very much like the Spartan.

"The easiest identifier is the 3rd-stage fins. I've included a comparison image. As for Spartan having never been launched at White Sands the photo in question is of mockups I believe. I suppose they could have tested a Spartan 3rd stage with a Zeus 1st and 2nd but regardless, the 3rd stage fins in the photo are clearly those of Spartan. (Interestingly enough I had that same book growing up. :-) )

I've looked at them a little closer now and the Spartan neck-down from the 2nd to 3rd stage is a bit more severe than on Zeus also. However the paint scheme of the missile in question most closely matches that of Zeus in the locations of the wrap-around graphics and also its neck-down matches more closely that of Zeus. Its 3rd stage fins are definitely those of Spartan though. Looks like they slapped 3rd stage Spartan fins on a Zeus. Definitely a head-scratcher. I'll look into it a little further and if I find out anything I'll let you know.

I've looked at them a little closer now and the Spartan neck-down from the 2nd to 3rd stage is a bit more severe than on Zeus also. However the paint scheme of the missile in question most closely matches that of Zeus in the locations of the wrap-around graphics and also its neck-down matches more closely that of Zeus. Its 3rd stage fins are definitely those of Spartan though. Looks like they slapped 3rd stage Spartan fins on a Zeus. Definitely a head-scratcher. I'll look into it a little further and if I find out anything I'll let you know.

So does anybody know for sure what that thing is in the picture?

I fully agree with your analysis. The 3rd-stage fins are Spartan, but the first two stages look like Zeus B (the diameter of the 2nd-stage diameter appears to be slightly smaller that of the 1st stage, which (AFAIK) wasn't the case for Spartan).

And remember…remember the glory is not the exhortation of war, but the exhortation of man.Mans nobility, made transcendent in the fiery crucible of war.Faithfulness and fortitude.Gentleness and compassion.I am honored to be your brother.”

As impressive as the missile was, the supporting radar, i.e. the Zeus Acquisition Radar (ZAR) was just awesome. It consisted of separate transmitter and receiver each the size of a basket ball pitch. The transmitter had three enormous horns, each covering 120 deg of arc. This assembly rotated and transmitted microwave energy on to a beam forming fence the size of a basketball stadium, no kidding a 30m high girder structure that went 360 deg around the circumference.

If anyone has some really good quality photo's it would be great to post them, as all I've ever seen are really grainey, fuzzy, retouched jobs.